COUNTESS'S TRAGIC DEATH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 6

COUNTESS'S TRAGIC DEATH

Fall from Seventh Storey Tbe tbeory tbat a tight-fitting dress may have been tbe indirect cause of tbe death of tbe Countess of Cardigan, who fell from tbe seventli story of a Weat End botel, was put to tbt Daily Sketcb by Lady Victor Paget. Lady Cardigan bad been staying with ber at Seaview, Isle of Wight. '•Lady Cardigan, wbo was sunbathing bere, may bave been suffering from the effect," said Lady Paget. "I remember toucbing ber on tbe back of the neck and remarking bow bot it ujis. Sbe said to me, 'I have a splitting beadacbe.' "Tbat evening I went into ber room and sbe asked me, 'Sball I cbange to-nigbt ? 5 Sbe had tbe pink evening gown on tbe bed, and I see she wfts weaTing tbat when v she fell. "Tbis was a very tigbt gown, and I suggest it migbt bave been possible tbat sbe went to open the window and sat on tbe balcony sideways. "Tbe gown migbt bave split, and in stooping down to release it sbe may Imve felt dizzy and overbalanced. "Sbe was onlv talking to me in very affectlonate terms on tbe last day sbe was bere about ber busband and ber children. Broken-bearted Mr Stepben Salter, 73-year-oId father of the Countess, could uot believe the tragic news of his daugbter's death when be read of it in tbe newspapers. •'It can't be true,55 be cried repeatcdly. "It was revealed tbat tbe Countess, before _ falling lo death, bad ordered dinner in ber suite — but left it unfmisbed. The staff bad seen little of ber. Sbe stayed almost all the time in the suite. "Sbe seemed quite cbeerful when I brougbt in ber evening meal, 5 5 her waiter told tbe Daily Sketcb; "in fact, sbe smiled very cbarmingly. 5 ' Lady Cardigan left ber bome at Banbury road, Oxford apparently to spent anotber week-end in tbe Isle oi Wigbt. Tbey waited, but sbe did not tuni up. At 2.30 p.m. sbe entered the botel and booked a suite. . "She looked quite normal and bappy when sbe registered, 5 ' said an botel receptionist. «'As far as I know sbe received no visitors.55 Lady Cardigan 5s fatber, Mr Salter, is an arcbitect in tbe Isle of Wigbt. His daugbter's romantic marriage to tbc Earl in 1925 was kept secret for nearly p jHx after the civil ceremony.